Tips

IWSS implements several features into each of the Web sites we design to increase their functionality. These features are beneficial to all university Web sites.

Here is a list of a few of our tips:

• Place the iGuide, Illinois State University's navigation bar, at the top of each of your pages to proudly display your affiliation with the University, and enhance Illinois State's Web presence. You can customize iGuide to fit with your site by selecting an iGuide style and color.
• We use the Macromedia software programs Contribute and Dreamweaver to create and maintain our sites easily, and encourage our clients to use one of these programs as well.
• Encode e-mail addresses so that spamming programs cannot access them.
• When developing navigation, we identify what pages are the most often visited by reviewing site traffic to assist you in visualizing your user's needs.
• Validate your code to make your site easier to update and decrease the amount of time it takes for pages to load.
• To increase your site's marketability, apply for Illinois State's A-Z listing.
• For a unique, memorable link for your site, check out Illinois State's custom URL options.
• We ensure the sites we create are accessible to all users and follow ADA guidelines by using built-in software features and running thorough accessibility checks before we hand the sites over to our clients. Compliance with ADA guidelines is a requirement for all University sites.
• Use a calendar feed, and regularly update your group's events in the University Calendar to increase marketabilty for your group.
• Use our faculty/staff database to easily store and and layout contact information for many faculty and staff members.
• Provide a search option on your site as a back-up method to help visitors quickly find the information they need.
• Review the Web Photo Usage privileges and policies granted to you as a member of an Illinois State University unit.